MANILA, Philippines- Binatikos ng National Security Council (NSC) ang naging pahayag ng isang militanteng grupo laban sa pagbili ng gobyerno ng BrahMos cruise missile system na naglalayong palakasin ang “defensive capabilities” ng Pilipinas.
Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ni NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya na ang naging pahayag ng Bayan Muna ay hindi na nagtatanggol sa interes ng mga Pilipino kundi lantarang umaalingawngaw at pinalalakas ang official propaganda ng People’s Republic of China.
“Let’s call a spade a spade: Bayan Muna is not advocating for the national interest, it is now speaking for Beijing,” ang sinabi ni Malaya.
Tinukoy ni Malaya ang naging pagtutol ni Bayan Muna Executive Vice President Carlos Zarate sa planong pagbili ng Pilipinas ng BrahMos missile system buhat sa India.
“Zarate’s statement against the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is a repetition of China’s official propaganda line. Their talking points are exactly the same as those of Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who early this year demanded the removal of US missile systems in the Philippines and accused our country of ‘creating tensions’ and ‘inciting confrontation,'” ayon kay Malaya.
Binigyang-diin pa ni Malaya na ang salita at lohika ng Bayan Muna ay kahalintulad umano ng sa Tsina.
“The only difference? One speaks Mandarin, the other pretends to speak for the masses and the people,” giit ni Malaya.
Tinuran pa ni Malaya na ang tawagin ang missile acquisitions ng bansa na “warmongering” at “waste” ay isang pagbalewala sa reyalidad sa ground.
“Bayan Muna is practically demanding that we disarm in the face of mounting Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea. While Chinese ships swarm our waters, block our resupply missions, destroy our reefs, and harass our fisherfolk, Bayan Muna would have the Filipino people surrender our right to defend ourselves,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
Ipinaalala naman ni Malaya sa grupong Bayan Muna na ang BrahMos missile procurement mula India, at ang planong pagbili ng US Typhon system, ay kapwa “defensive, strategic, at calibrated responses” sa tunay at lumalagong banta.
“These are not weapons of offensive war, they are tools of deterrence. These strengthen our defense posture to protect our shores, assert our sovereign rights, and uphold regional stability based on international law,” aniya pa rin.
“Public funds spent on defense are not ‘wasted’—they are investments in freedom, sovereignty, and peace. Defense is not the enemy, foreign aggression is,” ang pahayag pa rin nito. Kris Jose
